3D face recognition biometric solution ensures accurate authentication

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22 March 2006 News

Government agencies, banking institutions and the mining industry all stand to benefit from a new realtime, three-dimensional (3D) face recognition technology said to promise more efficient, accurate authentication of individual identities by overcoming many of the limitations of existing biometrics systems.

The new Motorola solution features a low-cost, compact camera and 3D facial recognition software from OEM partner A4Vision.

Explains Patrick Gilmore, Motorola's director of biometrics for the Middle East and Africa: "The 3D camera projects an invisible, non-invasive light pattern onto the individual's face, working on the principle of structured or coded lighting. The structured light is distorted by the individual's facial geometry and the distortions are defined by the form of the scanned surface. Face capturing occurs at the moment when the camera and the special light take a 'picture' of the target, and the system software automates image capture and synchronises all the necessary steps of the acquisition process."

Realtime reconstruction and analysis of the 3D face surface provides high-speed recognition, with verification or identification occurring in under a second, he says. As each person's face is unique, the system allows the differentiation of identical twins and cannot be spoofed by videos or photographs.

"Face recognition is becoming increasingly popular as a reliable identification system and is rapidly gaining ground over traditional automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) which have typically been used for criminal applications," says Gilmore. "This is due to the fact that it is far less invasive, therefore less likely to cause offence. It is also more accurate than fingerprinting, which is only able to capture 85% of individuals."

While two-dimensional face recognition is highly sensitive to different light conditions; changes in facial hair or cosmetics; accessories such as hats, helmets or glasses; bright background colours and ageing, Gilmore claims the new 3D solution overcomes all these problems - including movement.

The system presents attractive solutions for banks that need to authenticate customers in the face of increased identity threats and fraud. The invisible IR light allows individuals to be scanned discretely, which makes it an ideal solution for criminal hotspots such as automated teller machines and for large public events. The system's ability to overcome headgear makes it suitable for identifying and tracking workers in heavy industry - especially important in hazardous work environments such as mining.

For more information contact Patrick Gilmore, Motorola, 0944 1 256 488 252.

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3D face recognition biometric solution ensures accurate authentication

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